Quality education is never restricted to textbook-based learning alone. Every bit of knowledge that relates the learners to their surroundings is a part of education. The social frame that nurtures and supports every child to grow into a responsible human being is also a part of this process. Hence, knowing about the social parameters is also essential for growing up. The fundamental rights are surely a significant facet of the sociological framework. Moreover, knowing about the fundamental rights also ensures that the young minds grow aware of the entitlements they have been endowed with by the nation. Sometimes, social deprivation arises out of ignorance, and this is why it is important that children are taught about their fundamental rights.
The Indian constitution has endowed every child with certain rights to maintain social balance. Here are some of the fundamental rights we believe every child should be aware of, which are indeed necessary for children to help them realize their potential to the fullest.
Right to life
Social prejudices and stereotypes often create an imbalance in terms of gender ratio. The right to life allows every child, regardless of caste, creed, sex, religion, and economic status, to live. Denial to life for any child is thus an act of defiance and is punishable under law.
Right to education
Establishing an enriched environment for every child has been the impetus behind this right. It ensures equal opportunities to attain formal education for every child regardless of his/her religion, caste, and creed. Under this right, every child enjoys the right to go to school and attain education. This ensures social equality and a brighter future for the young minds in the country, thereby paving the path for a stronger nation.
Right to food
Nutrition plays a critical role in determining the health of an individual. The better the nutritional intakes of the children are, the healthier can the nation builders of tomorrow grow. Under the right to food, every child has been given the right to enjoy a complete balanced diet for their meals. As a measure to ensure the same, several government-funded educational institutions in the country provide free meals to the students. This helps in eradicating child death consequent upon malnutrition and hunger.
Right to water
Water is the key necessity for life. But it is not merely providing the children with water that this right entails. It is the provision of safe drinking water in an adequate amount that the right aims at. It is an essential requirement to support healthy growth and complete nourishment for the children.
Right to identity
A child has every right to have a proper name, surname, and nationality registered as his/her official identity on a government ID card. It helps in integrating the children as an acceptable part of society. Having a social identity also means access to the social privileges offered by the country to its citizens.
Right to freedom
This refers to a set of liberties that every child should enjoy. The liberties include access to information, freedom to speak, freedom to express, and the independence of having individual opinions and to make decisions regarding one’s own life.
Right to protection
It states that all children deserve the right to be protected from the external influences that are harmful to them, which also encompasses protection from social inequalities. Hence, the right to protection is a vital right that validates the seamless implementation of the rest of the fundamental rights available to children.
We, at Banyan Tree School, recognized among the best schools in Chandigarh, firmly believe that apart from learning the alphabets, numbers, and motor skills, it is necessary that children also become aware of their fundamental rights and responsibilities. It is crucial for them to grow aware of the social endowments that the nation has provided them being a citizen of the country. At Banyan Tree, our teachers always ensure that along with instilling the children with deep academic knowledge, the young minds are also informed about the other facets of life, which hold key relevance for healthy living; and fundamental rights are surely crucial in that sense. Through various activities, we ensure that the children comprehend about the rights better, and thus grow into responsible citizens of the nation.
